Hi,Last week my parents 3 year old torti was found deceased on the side of my friends house. It was sudden. She didn't show any signs of being ill. She was rescued at 10 days old in the back of a very hot pickup truck. She was always pretty tiny, about 7 lbs. Her temperament was horrible. She hissed and growled like a mountain lion, but really was happy outside chasing squirrels. I researched sudden death in cats, and I realize it is not possible to know without an examination. So I'm just looking for opinions.She did not appear injured and there was no blood coming from her nose, ears, or eyes. She was just laying on her side with her eyes open. I believe my mom treated her with a combo flea/heartworm medicine so I do not think it was heartworms. She was up to date on her shots including felileukemia. If she was injured (such as falling off the roof) or poisoned, wouldn't she have been foaming at the mouth or blood coming out somewhere? My best guess is cardiomyopathy. Could that have been why her temperament was so bad?Thank you so much.

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3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:cause of death in catHi,Last week my parents 3 year old torti was found deceased on the side of my friends house. It was sudden. She didn't show any signs of being ill. She was rescued at 10 days old in the back of a very hot pickup truck. She was always pretty tiny, about 7 lbs. Her temperament was horrible. She hissed and growled like a mountain lion, but really was happy outside chasing squirrels. I researched sudden death in cats, and I realize it is not possible to know without an examination. So I'm just looking for opinions.She did not appear injured and there was no blood coming from her nose, ears, or eyes. She was just laying on her side with her eyes open. I believe my mom treated her with a combo flea/heartworm medicine so I do not think it was heartworms. She was up to date on her shots including felileukemia. If she was injured (such as falling off the roof) or poisoned, wouldn't she have been foaming at the mouth or blood coming out somewhere? My best guess is cardiomyopathy. Could that have been why her temperament was so bad?Thank you so much.

We're so sorry on the loss of your parent's cat. Losing one so young and so suddenly is always difficult. Since you've researched sudden death in cats, you know that cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) is a common cause. But in outside cats, trauma is also a strong possibility, even with no signs of external injury. Of course, only an autopsy can truly determine the cause. Cardiomyopathy doesn't usually affect a cat's personality, however.

Report This| Share this:cause of death in catWe're so sorry on the loss of your parent's cat. Losing one so young and so suddenly is always difficult. Since you've researched sudden death in cats, you know that cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) is a common cause. But in outside cats, trauma is also a strong possibility, even with no signs of external injury. Of course, only an autopsy can truly determine the cause. Cardiomyopathy doesn't usually affect a cat's personality, however.

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